Romford shops and places to go captured in historic photos

From the C&A department store in Romford, which closed in 2001, to Rex Cinema in Collier Row in the late 1950s, take in the nostalgia from these images of yesteryear.

C&A in Market Place, Romford, in 2000

All C&A stores in UK had closed by 2001 (Image: Havering Libraries-Local Studies)

This photo was taken on February 22 in 2000, according to Havering Libraries.

The Romford branch, along with other C&A stores, shut a year later.

C&A was a clothing store that was fondly remembered by some. A reader in 2022 said: "Please bring C&A back, it was my favourite shop."

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Rex Cinema in Collier Row, Romford, circa 1959

This photo shows Rex Cinema shortly before it closed (Image: Havering Libraries-Local Studies)

The Rex, as it was known, was designed by architect Eric Norman Bailey, who designed at least 11 cinemas in London and the south east.

It opened in April 1939 after a planning application dated in 1933.

The cinema closed in 1959, initially "for modification" but it never reopened for its original use.

Tesco (former Rex Cinema) in Collier Row, Romford, circa 1989/90

This large Tesco replaced the Rex Cinema (Image: Havering Libraries-Local Studies)

Victor Value opened the former Rex as a Tesco supermarket around 1964/65, according to Havering Libraries.

In 1968, Victor Value was sold to Tesco and the Collier Row store is last listed in the 1970 telephone directory by its old name, before rebranding to Tesco.

Romford Branch Library and Charity School in Market Place, 1967

Romford Branch Library (Image: Havering Libraries-Local Studies)

This was the former Romford Branch Library and Charity School in Market Place.

After the building closed as a library, it was used by The Samaritans and an international Christian movement.

The building was demolished in July 1968, according to Havering Libraries.

Kentons in Victoria Road circa 1972

Kenton's Furnishing Stores had occupied the premises of the former Woodcrafts (Image: Havering Libraries-Local Studies)

The furnishing store occupied this building from around 1966 until 1978.

Kentons also had a business in North Street for a while, according to Havering Libraries.

Harry's Cycles in Market Place circa 1918

This was taken at around the end of World War I (Image: Havering Libraries-Local Studies)

The business was named after Harry Sibley, born in 1886 in Camberwell, south London, who moved to Romford in 1910, according to Havering Libraries.

It closed around 1967 and was demolished soon after.